Garden

Pool Chemicals That Lead To A Safe And Clean Pool

Posted in Garden on February 26th, 2011 by Jim – Comments Off

If you own a pool, you should know that it’s important to maintain a delicate balance of pool chemistry that leaves your pool safe and hygienic for swimmers. Not only do you have to add the right pool chemicals at the right times and in the proper amounts, but you also need to clean the pool on a regular basis, ideally with one of the better brand pool vacuum cleaners, and make sure the pump and filtration system are in working order.  However, filtration and vacuuming by itself will not maintain a proper pool chemistry balance.

The main elements that need to remain balanced in swimming pools are the chlorine sanitizer (or bromine if you have a bromine pool), alkalinity, and pH levels of the pool water. These three things are of the utmost importance whether you have an in-ground swimming pool or an above ground swimming pool. The most important chemical you will use is pool shock, which is available as either a chlorine based treatment or as a non-chlorine shock (also known as chlorine free shock). Pool shock is important in the breaking down of unwanted contaminants in the pool water. It also makes sure the chlorine or bromine sanitizer is working at its most efficient.

Adding pool chemicals to the water causes the acidity of the water to increase, which can cause eye and nose irritations to swimmers, plus it’s none too gentle on pool equipment. In order to restore the water’s pH levels and alkalinity, you can use alkaline pool balancing chemicals. In chlorine-based pools, the pH levels need to be kept within a narrow range in order for the chlorine to work properly. Bromine pools are also affected by pH levels, though not to the same degree.

While maintaining pool chemistry might sound a bit complicated, it’s easy to boil everything down to just a few steps. Once you get into a regular routine, you should find it quick and easy to have a trouble free pool.

Benefits of inflatable hot tubs

Posted in Garden on February 24th, 2011 by Jim – Comments Off

Who can deny the delights of a hot tub. Most people think of hot tubs as the ultimate in luxury and many of them are. People who install a hot tub gazebo certainly can afford some of the finest things in life as putting up one of those in your backyard cost quite a bit of change. There are other options to being part of the hot tub experience without spending the amount needed to put up a hot tub gazebo or even a hot tub in your own home.

The option that will give you the most for your money is the inflatable hot tub. This is a real live hot tub that gets pumped up with an electric air pump that allows you to  drag it to wherever you want it to be in a non permanent state. If you are installing a hot tub gazebo then you need to be sure that the place you are installing it is really the place you want it to be as once its installed it’s permanent.

One of the main benefits of an inflatable hot tub is that it is not permanent.If you own a summer cottage somewhere, then you can even take it with you over there. Another benefit of the hot tub is the same benefit you would get with any hot tub. There is nothing that relaxes one more that a soak in a hot tub after a long day at the office.It doesn’t even have to be from a long day at the office, it can be after an exhausting sports game as well. The ability to be able to sit and soak in a relaxing hot pool of water with jet streams pushing into your tired body is a dream for most.

It is through the invention of the inflatable hot tub that is a quarter of the price of the permanently installed ones that put it in reach of many more people.

How to Plant Strawberries

Posted in Garden on February 22nd, 2011 by Jim – Comments Off

Strawberries are one of the tastiest fruits and can be utilized in all sorts of dishes. They are also scrumptious when eaten whole. The problem with strawberries from the supermarket is that they can be laced with dozens of different chemicals. These chemicals are used in the patches to prevent bug infestations. Growing strawberries in your own garden is a healthier choice.

Strawberries are grown just after the last frost. Early planting is recommended, as the strawberries will complete their cycle before summer hits. Strawberries do not like heat and can die easily. The ground can be prepared in rows or mounds and should be tilled several inches deep. Gardeners should dig a hole which is big enough to contain all the roots and let them spread out. Strawberry plants are bought from the store as seedlings. It can be quite hard to start the plants from seeds alone.

Mulch and fertilizer can be added at the beginning of the season. The ground between each plant needs to be mixed up regularly to let oxygen in. When you start your new patch, make sure that the ground is not soaking wet.The soil can be mixed with compost to add nutrition. Worm compost is the best, but store-bought varieties are great too.

Strawberry plants send out thin strands known as runners. These runners will eventually root into the ground to create another plant. During the first season, it is important to pluck off any runners and flowers from the plant. Yes, you will lack any fruit for the initial year, but this method will yield lots of fruit in the next. In the next year, users should cover the middle of the runners with dirt and allow the tips to root in the ground. A new plant will form in that spot. Strawberries only last a few years and need to be replaced as they weaken and wilt. Protection through cold winters can be provided by covering the plants with several inches of mulch.

Proper Ways to Use Garden Mirrors

Posted in Garden on February 12th, 2011 by Jim – Comments Off

There is no doubt that garden mirrors are one of the best garden decorations of today. With their style and function, it is almost hard to imagine a garden not having a piece or so of any kind of mirror. However, a lot of people are challenged in terms of how to use mirrors for their gardens. Most garden owners are making the mistake of simply buying a garden mirror and installing it in a place that can accommodate its size and shape.

For garden mirrors to carry out the best benefits for your garden, it is essential that you know how to use them. This is especially true in terms of picking the right location to install them in the garden. For instance, if you want to create an illusion of more space in your garden, you must install the mirrors on walls, sheds, and trellises. Getting different shapes and sizes of mirrors will also help in creating this desired effect.

You can also use a large mirror at the end of a pathway in the garden. This will create an effect of a walk-through that can easily trick the eyes of your guests. However, to make sure this will work, you have to make the path appear narrower as it gets closer to the mirror. Also, avoid mishaps from happening when installing this kind of mirror for a walk-through effect. It can easily fool children, animals, and guests. Sooner or later, you will find people banging to the mirror not knowing the effect is just an illusion.

Another great location where you can install mirrors is in an area that is not receiving direct sunlight. The mirror can reflect sunlight and will give a brighter shine in the garden. This is not to mention yet that the reflection of the sunlight in the mirror can promote better growth of plants in the yard.

The secret towards efficient mirrors in the garden is their proper usage. If you know how to efficiently use each mirror, you can guarantee to get the most benefit from them every day.

Planting An Indoor Garden

Posted in Garden on January 28th, 2011 by Jim – Comments Off

If you are someone who lives in a small apartment and would like to have green plants surrounding you, you can easily make yourselves an indoor garden. No matter which type of plant is your favorite, you can benefit from growing it in your indoor garden.

There are a few things that you need to know before planting. The first thing is the fact that you need to have plenty of sunlight. If your plants do not have the sunlight that they need, they will not be able to go through the process of photosynthesis. If you do not have an adequate source of sunlight in your apartment, you may consider purchasing certain light bulbs called T5 grow lights that will trick your plants into thinking they are getting sunlight.

The next thing that you need to know is the fact that you need to dust your plants off so that they can breathe.

You need to be certain to purchase indoor potting soil for your plants. If you were to purchase outdoor potting soil, your plants would not do so well.

It is also important that the pot that you place your soil inside has holes in the bottom. This way, any excess water can easily drain off. You would not want to drown your plants. This is also very important if you are using a portable greenhouse to house your plants inside of.

It is also important that your plants get enough water to survive. It is important that the soil stays damp all of the time. If it were to dry out and begin to crack, your plant is not going to grow properly.

Because of the fact that you will be watering your plants frequently, some of the nutrients in the soil are going to wash away. Because of this you should consider using fertilizer to replace these nutrients. If you have an indoor garden, a liquid fertilizer is going to work best. If you follow these few simple tips, you can easily have the most beautiful indoor garden that you have ever seen.